Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-14
A DOMESTIC PROBLEM.
By lucy RANDALL COMFORT.

ga woman's education is a mistake from begin
ming TO end said Roxy stephens, in a sudden out
burst OF despair. AYES, IL is. Here have been
going 70 school all my life, and don't know any,
tling. There never could have BEEN" Roxy delib-
erately added seven in the Dark Ages, such an ig-
noramus as am don't even know how TO feed
the chickens properly" a downy colony OF little
sDoninidues" scattered this way and that before
the mass OF scalded meal which Roxy had flung
TOO abruptly into their midst, while the mother
hen sounding a trurnpet-note OF shrill ALARM scut-
tied back against the picket-fence, with Tapping
wings and feathers all a-bristIe.
The doOr-yard, starred with yellow dandelIon
blooms and tufted with rOSeJteS of plantain leaves
was stepped In the soft noon heats; cherall1-de-
Jr1se OF pink and puce-colOred hollyhocks guarded
raspberries fOated on the air. Down by the
maple swamp COw-beils tinkled softly, and some
wild bird whistled the same refrain over and over
again with melOdious perSiStency from the hazel
COpse across the road. And Roxy stephens, sit
ting dOlOrOuSly on the d0Or-StOne with her chin
supported IN both hands, neither saw nor heard
these sweet interpretations OF nature.
Up TO certain degree there was truth in her
lsmentatiOn- Roxy had been seventeen years
Old when she came TO live with her aunt Sally
stephens on the RedOrOok farm. She was
bnght-haired, fresh-cOmpIexionedg girl with shady
blue EYES, empasized by perfectly arehed brows
womankind- They had always been a secret
grievance To her, these black leech-ike curves ;
but, had she only known it, the dark, strongly
pencied brows were what gave character 10 her
whole face and redeemed 1t from the tnsipiCity OF
mere pink and white prettiness. In a certain
There was quaint vein Of originality pervading
IL Her nature was strongly outlined, too and in
the funeSS OF her youth and vitality She.had once
believed that she was born to conquer fate
Roxanua stephens was city-bred girl, the
daughter OF Miss sally's oldest brother, who had
died unexpectedly, leaving a motheriess girl
totally unprovided for. Thus do people give
mortgages 10 fate, and dying, leave others to
fOrecIooe on them. There is undoubtedly a GER
tain degree OF injustice in It, but who shall ven
ture to carp against the Lords will? Miss Sally
herself, complaining little woman. with a face
full OF hne wrinkles, like China Grape, and blue
eyes hidden behind misty spectacles, accepted the
trust, as she had accepted all the other tncon-
yenienceS OF her life, Imply and without protest.
She had never had any strong emotions one way
or the other. IL she had any active pleasure it
was In gathering the humble herbs and s1mples
OF her native neidS and drying them In prepara-
ton for the aches and pains that beset her poor
humanity. Its always well to be prepared, "
said She 81 don1 hold with the municipalities,
nor yet haint no faith in calomel and mercury
There amt nOthfn' like roots and herbs and
every neighbor within ten miles around comes to
And to this little old brown woman In little old
brown farmhouse came Roxanna, the young prin-
cess who had set forth 10 conquer the world.
"I'm desput glad you've come, Roxanner," said
Miss stephens, smiling at bunch OF w1lted penny
royal Il amt able to keep on dom as hev
been dofn'. Somehow its borne in upon me that
Providence has sent you. I've worked powerful
hard all my life and now Pl just rest spell, and
let you keep house for me. 1haint no doubt at all
and me-"
ROXY looked with solemn eyes at her aunt.
Evidently the old lady had faith as grain OF
mustard-seed, and there was something contagious
IA her example.
1T must be very easy TO keep house, said Roxy,
fresh from the classroom and rectation-h hall. so
the household helm was delivered into her hands,
and then-nOt I'LL then-She realized the fact Of
her exceeding ignorance.
Not for worlds, however would she have con-
fesed her inability TO rule the domestic nsendge.
Aunt Sally had a profound contempt for "bOok-
md a hal ifofa To <Ylx
that ''ef brother Simon had took her advice he
would hev Drung up ROxanner In quite different
indicating her fathers judgment. SO. by the
help OF a dogs-eared cookery book which she
found In the garnet, she learned some Of the
simpler secrets OF the cuisine, and her own neat
nature taught her the mysteries Of sweeping
and scrubbing; while old Kinda, jet black
negress, with grizzled wool and soft, appealing
voice like a flute, who pervaded the neighbOrhoOd,
came twice In the month to wash and iron for the
little household
an n INN else Missy can do mos angling; but
dar amt no sense In Missy stan1n at de wash tub.
Leave dat ar 20 ole Hinda."
I'm getting 70 be q hOuSekeeper," said she,
cheerily, TO herself. "Those fried fish this morn
ing tasted quite good, and the wild plums that
preserved yesterday are certainly going to be a
success"
But If it is always darkest Just before daylight,
IL Is also sometimes brightest before unexpected
thunder cloud And one day old Kinda bethought
herself TO feel III Of q Monday morning-of rheu-
Roxy went TO carry her little pail of milk and
stone crock OF the wild plumS, for Hinda had a
eh1ldl1ke fondness for sweets
~Hnda," she faltefed, cant you wash for me
this week. Do try-there's good linda"
The old woman wnggled herself about on her
uneasy couch, Wring1ng ner hands and rolling up
fashion.
Not dis var week, honey, she answered, plaint-
lively: mot for de Queen an all de royal chillunS
No; ner next week, neider. Dom knows as III
eber wash agin. honey" with a mournful croak In
Roxy's countenance fell. "But Hinda,~ she
pleaded, "Aunt Sally isn't able to wash; and be-
sides, she has found a whole thicket OF witch
n0st Sor sH up See ih ana sns M9n sleep
scraped, and the bark stripped OF and put steep
Ing In alcohol. Hinda"-witn a sudden inspira-
t1on-'do you think could do the wash1ng?"
You, Miss Roxy-Oh, git OUT"
But, Kinda, somebody must wash"
1T amt no work for young lady, Miss Roxy"
Everything is work for young lady, pleaded
Roxy, III IL has got 10 be done"
Hinda shook her head. ssYoll break yO' back
honey, an parboil yo hands an"
"Oh, don't Inind all that, Kinda, If only Aunt
Sally would think the clothes hooked decent"
urged Roxy. "Ieu me how TO do Ii, Hnda-thereS
darling"
Wei, honey, 70 put de clothes asoak de night
aore, unwiilingly began Kinda, Gin plenty o. bar
soap sliced up thin an yo bile 'em we'll. an yo'
dOan Iorgit de bluein', an mind yo' doan git de
Starch TOO stiff, an be suah yo' rensh de clothes
Tight smart, an'-oh! obi dar goes de pain In my
HghJnin'.-
20 Roxy returned home not much wiser than she
went I'D give all my algebra and geometry -
signed she, IF only knew how TO wash"
JOY OF JOYS. as she went past Squire Honey
wells Dig cream-colOred house she saw a colony of
white garments, veritable flags OF truce to her
troubled mind, fiutter1ng in the wind from a line,
IN The back garden.
They're washing" said Roxy to herself. with a
Frightening face SHOWS the time for me 10 90 In
and SEE how 10 Is done"
She slipped instnuatfngly in at the open kitchen
door, whence a cloud OF white steam fOated forth.
GOOD morning, Docia," she said 10 Miss TheodO-
Ga honeywell The SQuire's daughter .aDO you SUD-
pose your grandmother would like a lar OF nv
Mlld pluins? They're nice color, and keep their
na'Or beautifully. No, don't stop your work
(As Mss TheOdocia paused cOurteOusly, and began
10 wipe her Soapy arms on roler-toweD; ego on,
Just as II wasn't here"
Ana she eagerly settled herself TO take note OF
ge STOUT young womans every motion. But Miss
1heodOciaS Ideas or pOliLeneSs great deal TOO
well denned 10 allow her TO spend her time IN wash
1ls when there was company.
ii GU re very kind, I'm sure" said She 'sbut the
clothes can wait dare say granny would relish
the plums, and anyhow we've a city boarier this
month, an artist young gentleman, and any little
luxury comes In handy for the table,"
An artlSt7" w1Stfully repeated Roxy
les, nofied Docia. "Such pictures as he
paints with squeeze or two out OF his color-tubes
ana a dab OF his brushes! Ideclare IL seems like
magic. lou paint, too, Roxy Stevens. don't youer
"A little, confessed Roxy, thinking guilfily OF
tne p-dch-oiOSSOm plaques and the panels covered
Win dDDrtlse attempts at autumn leaves that she
han spoiled but painting Is no use Docia For
Aw0man,l mean Ida deal rather know how to-